2020 Kansas State Wildcats football team explained
The 2020 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wildcats played their home games at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas, and competed in the Big 12 Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Chris Klieman.
After completing their regular season with a record of 4–6 (4–5 in conference play), the program announced on December 16 that it would not pursue a bid to a bowl game, "because of mounting COVID-19 issues on its roster."[1]
Previous season
The Wildcats finished the 2019 season with an 8–5 record, 5–4 Big 12 play, losing the Liberty Bowl to Navy.
Preseason
Big 12 media Days
The Big 12 media days were held on July 21–22, 2020 in a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
Big 12 media poll
| Big 12 media poll[3] |
| 1 | Oklahoma | 80 |
| 2 | Oklahoma State | 6 |
| 3 | Texas | 4 |
| 4 | Iowa State | |
| 5 | Baylor | |
| 6 | TCU | |
| 7 | Kansas State | |
| 8 | West Virginia | |
| 9 | Texas Tech | |
| 10 | Kansas | | |
Schedule
Regular season
Kansas State released its 2020 schedule on October 22, 2019.
The Wildcats had games scheduled against Buffalo and North Dakota as out of conference opponents, but these games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] In fact, the whole season schedule was changed and the finalized one is shown below. The original schedule is shown under Game Summaries.
Schedule Source:[5]
Coaching staff
Game summaries
Vs. Arkansas State
See also: 2020 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team.
| Statistics | ARST | KSU |
|---|
| First downs | 26 | 21 |
| Total yards | 489 | 374 |
| Rushes/yards | 159 | 91 |
| Passing yards | 330 | 283 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25-38-1 | 18-30-0 |
| Time of possession | 25:44 | 34:16 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Arkansas State | Passing | | 17–28, 204 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Jamal Jones | 16 carries, 95 yds |
| Receiving | | 8 receptions, 98 yds, 3 td |
| Kansas State | Passing | | 17–29, 259 yds, 2 TD |
| Rushing | | 12 carries, 47 yds, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Chabastin Taylor | 4 recptions, 98 yds | |
Both teams entered the game with a reduced roster due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Arkansas State was down nearly 10 starters and K-State was without approximately two dozen players—however, both teams had enough active personnel to play the game. After the game, Arkansas State announced that it will not play its home opener game
Central Arkansas the Red Wolves were unable to assemble a complete depth chart for the game.
[6] At No. 3 Oklahoma
See also: 2020 Oklahoma Sooners football team.
| Statistics | KSU | OKLA |
|---|
| First downs | 10 | 28 |
| Total yards | 390 | 517 |
| Rushes/yards | 26-56 | 35-130 |
| Passing yards | 334 | 387 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18-25 | 30-41 |
| Time of possession | 27:52 | 32:08 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Kansas State | Passing | Skylar Thompson | 18–25, 334 yds, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Deuce Vaughn | 8 carries, 35 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Deuce Vaughn | 4 receptions, 129 yards |
| Oklahoma | Passing | | 30–41, 387 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Seth McGowan | 13 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 3 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD | |
Vs. Texas Tech
See also: 2020 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team.
| Statistics | TTU | KSU |
|---|
| First downs | 27 | 20 |
| Total yards | 471 | 404 |
| Rushes/yards | 34-204 | 42-198 |
| Passing yards | 267 | 206 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 34-49-1 | 12-22-0 |
| Time of possession | 31:39 | 28:21 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Texas Tech | Passing | | 30–42, 244 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Xavier White | 12 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 5 receptions, 77 yards |
| Kansas State | Passing | | 7-12, 173 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Deuce Vaughn | 16 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Deuce Vaughn | 3 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD | |
At TCU
See also: 2020 TCU Horned Frogs football team.
| Statistics | KSU | TCU |
|---|
| First downs | 12 | 20 |
| Total yards | 289 | 342 |
| Rushes/yards | 38-172 | 37-189 |
| Passing yards | 117 | 153 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 8-19-1 | 22-38-1 |
| Time of possession | 30:15 | 29:45 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Kansas State | Passing | Will Howard | 8-19, 117 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Will Howard | 13 carries, 86 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Deuce Vaughn | 1 reception, 45 yards |
| TCU | Passing | Max Duggan | 19–31, 154 yards |
| Rushing | Darwin Barlow | 8 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Blair Conwright | 6 receptions, 60 yards | |
Vs. Kansas (homecoming)
See also: 2020 Kansas Jayhawks football team.
| Statistics | KAN | KSU |
|---|
| First downs | 18 | 17 |
| Total yards | 320 | 381 |
| Rushes/yards | 39-113 | 33-129 |
| Passing yards | 207 | 252 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22-39-1 | 18-28-0 |
| Time of possession | 30:40 | 29:20 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Kansas | Passing | | 22–39, 207 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Velton Gardner | 16 carries, 72 yards |
| Receiving | | 7 receptions, 58 yards |
| Kansas State | Passing | Will Howard | 17–24, 243 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Deuce Vaughn | 11 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Deuce Vaughn | 4 receptions, 81 yards | |
Phillip Brooks, sophomore wide receiver, had two punt returns in the first half.
At West Virginia
See also: 2020 West Virginia Mountaineers football team.
| Statistics | KSU | WVU |
|---|
| First downs | | |
| Total yards | | |
| Rushes/yards | | |
| Passing yards | | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | | |
| Time of possession | | |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Kansas State | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | |
| West Virginia | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | | |
Vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State
See also: 2020 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team.
| Statistics | OKST | KSU |
|---|
| First downs | 14 | 15 |
| Total yards | 256 | 370 |
| Rushes/yards | 40–148 | 44–227 |
| Passing yards | 108 | 143 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 14–23–0 | 10–22–1 |
| Time of possession | 28:09 | 31:51 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Oklahoma State | Passing | | 14/23, 108 yards |
| Rushing | LD Brown | 15 carries, 110 yards |
| Receiving | | 7 receptions, 62 yards |
| Kansas State | Passing | | 10/21, 143 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Will Howard | 14 carries, 125 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Sammy Wheeler | 1 reception, 58 yards | |
At Iowa State
See also: 2020 Iowa State Cyclones football team and Iowa State–Kansas State football rivalry.
| Statistics | KSU | ISU |
|---|
| First downs | 9 | 26 |
| Total yards | 149 | 539 |
| Rushes/yards | 28–73 | 44–240 |
| Passing yards | 76 | 299 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 9–19–1 | 19–25–0 |
| Time of possession | 23:05 | 36:55 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Kansas State | Passing | Nick Ast | 6/10, 44 yards |
| Rushing | Deuce Vaughn | 7 carries, 44 yards |
| Receiving | Chabastin Taylor | 2 receptions, 37 yards |
| Iowa State | Passing | | 16/20, 236 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | | 15 carries, 135 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | | 6 receptions, 111 yards, TD | |
At Baylor
See also: 2020 Baylor Bears football team.
| Statistics | KSU | BAY |
|---|
| First downs | 14 | 21 |
| Total yards | 344 | 420 |
| Rushes/yards | 35–256 | 36–71 |
| Passing yards | 88 | 349 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 9–18–2 | 31–39–0 |
| Time of possession | 25:42 | 34:18 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Kansas State | Passing | Will Howard | 9/18, 88 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Deuce Vaughn | 19 carries, 102 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Briley Moore | 2 receptions, 55 yards |
| Baylor | Passing | | 31/39, 349 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Charlie Brewer | 23 carries, 56 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | R.J. Sneed | 6 receptions, 86 yards, TD | |
Vs. Texas
See also: 2020 Texas Longhorns football team.
| Statistics | TEX | KSU |
|---|
| First downs | 26 | 24 |
| Total yards | 608 | 448 |
| Rushes/yards | 33–334 | 46–274 |
| Passing yards | 274 | 174 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20–27–0 | 16–27–2 |
| Time of possession | 24:20 | 35:40 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Texas | Passing | | 20/27, 274 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | | 9 carries, 172 yards, 3 TD |
| Receiving | | 4 receptions, 55 yards |
| Kansas State | Passing | Will Howard | 16/27, 174 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Deuce Vaughn | 10 carries, 125 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Malik Knowles | 6 receptions, 95 yards, 2 TD | |
Players drafted into the NFL
See also: 2021 NFL draft.
Notes and References
- Web site: Robinett . Kellis . Kansas State pauses all football activities because of COVID, won't pursue bowl game. The Wichita Eagle. December 16, 2020 . en . December 16, 2020.
- Web site: Rittenberg . Adam . Big 12 football media days going virtual due to coronavirus . ESPN.com . May 6, 2020 . ESPN, Inc. . 9 May 2020.
- Web site: Oklahoma Tops Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll . big12sports.com. July 17, 2020 .
- Web site: Talty . John . SEC moves to conference-only 2020 schedule, pushes back start of season. AL.com. July 30, 2020 . 30 July 2020.
- Web site: Kansas State Wildcats Schedule 2020 . ESPN.com . ESPN, Inc. . 4 February 2020.
- Web site: Arkansas State postpones football game due to COVID, days after playing Kansas State. Wichita Eagle. Kellis. Robinett. September 15, 2020. September 27, 2020.
